Crisis Pathway Mental Health Practitioner | East London NHS Foundation Trust

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A trust providing mental health services in Bedford is seeking a Band 6 mental health practitioner for the NHS 111 Mental Health Crisis Line. You will conduct assessments, collaborate with teams, and support patients experiencing mental health crises. Successful candidates will have experience in mental health and crisis management, ensuring effective communication and empathetic care. This role contributes significantly to community mental health outcomes and is part of a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health and crisis management.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of NHS guidelines and pathways for mental health.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of mental health services via NHS 111.
• Conduct assessments for mental health and social care needs.
• Work with teams to provide home treatment and minimize hospital admissions.

Skills

Telephone triage assessments

Compassionate communication

Risk assessment

Psycho-social interventions

Team collaboration

Job description

Band 6 mental health practitioner to be part of Bedfordshire Mental Health Crisis Line 111 option 2, covering Bedfordshire and Luton. East London Foundation NHS Trust working in partnership with Herts Urgent Care (HUC) NHS 111 to provide a Mental Health Crisis line for Bedfordshire and Luton 111 option 2 and to provide cross cover for the Bedford Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team.

Mission & Values

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – we look for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and partner organisations.

Responsibilities – NHS 111 (B-111)

• Support the delivery of a clinically effective service by providing clinical expertise in the operation of the NHS 111 Pathways content for patients with mental health needs. Minimise the necessity to attend emergency services (Police, ambulance and Accident & Emergency).
• Undertake telephone triage assessments of mental health and social care needs and be compassionate and empathetic, meeting the needs of those people and their carers who contact the service.
• Respond to and assist 111 Health Advisors in the management of all callers with mental health needs situations or relatives requiring team support and advice.
• Develop cooperative and collaborative working between clients, health and social care professional systems and voluntary organisations to deliver the best outcomes for people who call NHS 111 Option 2 with mental health problems, learning disabilities or substance misuse issues.
• Promote social inclusion, community access and participation through the provision of client care.
• Provide proactive and visible clinical presence and, as required, operational support to staff within the crisis pathway.
• Be committed to and take a lead role in activities integral to the Trust’s Quality Improvement System.
• Promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill-health with other providers and be the positive face of ELFT.

Responsibilities – Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment (CRHT)

• Work within a multidisciplinary mental health assessment service, assessing referrals from various sources including GPs, CRHTT and acute admission wards, and providing home treatment for patients accepted onto our caseload.
• Be part of the assessment or home treatment team within the Crisis Team.
• Provide gatekeeping and feedback based on the CRHTT criteria.
• Provide comprehensive risk assessments incorporating baseline physical assessments.
• Provide expert advice on the management, treatment interventions and diagnosis of patients experiencing a mental health crisis with the aim of minimising risks, ensuring safe care and promoting recovery.
• Provide support to acute hospital wards, facilitate early discharge of patients or support them while on leave and reduce length of stay for patients in hospital.
• Use a range of psycho‑social interventions to improve mental health outcomes for patients.
• Reduce re‑admissions to the acute hospitals by facilitating client education and service‑user led recovery and independence as well as longer term support.
• Provide seamless care from the GP or ward to community for those patients under our service.
• Act on a regular basis as a shift co‑ordinator assigning colleagues work for the day.
• Be aware of and adhere to our lone worker policy.
• When required supervise and facilitate the administration of medication.
• Participate in the multi‑disciplinary team meetings as well as team and business meetings.
• Promote social inclusion, community access and participation through the provision of client care.
• Where appropriate and with authorisation, act as an advocate for patients and carers.

For further details or to apply, please follow the application instructions on the NHS Jobs site. This advert closes on Sunday 14 Dec 2025.